Slither IO
New
- Genre Arcade games
- Players 1–2
- Session 7 min
- Price Free
- Updated
A shared arena full of snakes, all of them eating and all of them growing. Collision is one-sided in a way that defines the whole game: running into another snake kills you, so length is a liability as much as an asset. A large snake is harder to manoeuvre and easier to cut off, and the mass it leaves behind when it dies is a free meal for whoever arranged it. That makes the interesting play social rather than mechanical — hunting is done by cutting across a path, not by chasing, and most deaths come from someone who was in front of you rather than behind.
| Mouse | Steer by pointing |
|---|---|
| Left click or Space | Boost, at the cost of length |
| Touch | Drag to steer, tap and hold to boost |
How to play Slither IO
- Eat what is loose before hunting anything. Early length is cheap and it is what makes hunting possible.
- Kill by cutting in front, never by chasing. A snake cannot avoid a body that appears across its path.
- Boost sparingly. It costs mass and it is exactly what a larger snake wants you to do near them.
- Circle the mass left by a kill rather than diving into it, since everyone else is arriving too.
- Stay near the edge when small and move towards the middle only when you can afford a mistake.
Tips
- Large snakes turn slowly, which is why a small one can kill a large one and rarely the other way round.
- If you are being circled, boost through the gap immediately rather than waiting for it to close.
- The safest food is the mass nobody else has noticed, so watch the edges of the map.
Questions about Slither IO
Does being bigger make me safer?
Not really. Length makes you harder to manoeuvre and a more attractive target.
How do I kill another snake?
By making them run into your body, usually by cutting across the front of them.
What does boosting cost?
Length. It is a real trade rather than a free ability.
Are the other snakes real players?
The arena fills with other players, which is what makes the behaviour unpredictable.
Is there an end to a round?
Only your own death. The arena keeps running.
Does it work on touch?
Yes, steering by dragging is the natural mobile control.
